Individual psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a process that can support you in cultivating self-knowledge, facilitating emotional growth, and developing personal resources to promote better coping and resiliency. This process is supported by the development of a trusting therapeutic relationship, as well as the skilled use of professional competencies to facilitate change. Each person might come to therapy with somewhat different goals, but generally, psychotherapy can help with addressing specific challenges, making decisions, gaining personal insights, coping with crises, working through difficult feelings, and improving relationships.

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Thinking about starting therapy? I’m glad you’re here!

Many people start therapy with a mix of feelings - anything from uncertainty and nervousness to curiosity and excitement. You might not quite know what to expect, and I think that’s pretty normal when trying something new! I’m here to help you to understand the process as best I can - while also knowing that your therapy journey will unfold in a way that is unique to you.

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Deciding to attend therapy can be an act of caring for yourself. It is a choice to regularly set aside an hour of your time in order to…

… check in with your mental and emotional health.

… ask for and receive help.

… bring attention to what matters to you.

… try out different perspectives and ways of dealing with challenges.

As your therapist, I aim to meet you in this commitment to your care. Together, we can work out how best to spend this time in order for it to be supportive and meaningful to you.

You may be experiencing…

  • Feeling overwhelmed by your emotions

  • Struggling with self-judgment or shame

  • Having trouble “settling” or relaxing

  • Feeling constantly stressed or burnt out

  • Getting stuck in rumination or “thought spirals”

  • Having less motivation to do the things you care about

  • Struggling to cope with a big change or life transition

  • Feeling disconnected from yourself or others in your life

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How I can help…

  • Supporting you in developing awareness of what is happening in your inner and outer world

  • Helping you to bring a compassionate lens to your experiences and difficulties

  • Aiding in tuning into your emotions and thought patterns, without feeling ruled by them

  • Getting curious about who you are at your most authentic - considering your unique values, strengths, and capacities

  • Supporting you in noticing and responding to your needs so that you can take better care of yourself

  • Exploring opportunities for meaningful connection with others and relating in ways that feel genuine

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Psychotherapy might often look and sound much like a regular conversation - it will likely have ebbs and flows, perhaps move between different topics, and be marked by how you’re feeling and what is going on in your life at a particular time. However, therapeutic conversations are also purposeful in particular ways. In these conversations, we will listen for certain things - perhaps for feelings that remain unresolved, needs going unmet, patterns that have become rote, or intentions that have gone unrealized. We will highlight and inquire into the details that are important to you, and try to develop a deeper understanding of your experience and your story. We will try to keep the door open to change - noticing openings as they arise and drawing on whatever resources might be available to take the next steps. We will also likely build up some different experiences related to your challenges - maybe we will practice applying particular tools or strategies, maybe we will try applying different perspectives, or maybe simply opening up and being heard by a compassionate ear will be new and helpful.

I strive to strike a balance in my work by privileging your wisdom and resilience, while also drawing on evidence-based practices and established therapeutic traditions. My approach is integrative, meaning that I draw on various therapeutic modalities, but I consider my work to be rooted in mindfulness and compassion-based, emotion-focused, humanistic-existential, and strengths-based therapies.

What might this look like in practice?

My approach in a nutshell:

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Awareness

Bringing attention to your inner world of experience - practicing awareness of emotions, thoughts, narratives, nervous system activity, needs, capacities, and more

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Compassion

Bringing as much acceptance and kindness as is possible to what is observed and experienced - witnessing your human experience through the eyes of curiosity, with the intention to understand

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Action

Considering what steps might be taken to act in alignment with your values and wellbeing - responding to needs, drawing on your unique capacities, developing personal resources, and moving on intentions

If it sounds like I might be the right fit for your therapy journey, I invite you to book a free consultation call so that we can discuss taking the next steps together.

Book now

FAQs

  • This will vary depending on factors including individual goals, needs, schedules, and finances. Many clients will attend sessions every 1-2 weeks when beginning therapy and working more actively on goals, and some might eventually change to attending every 3-4 weeks when they have less need for support or are working more on maintaining progress. This is a general guideline, but frequency of attendance can be discussed in more depth together as needed, taking into consideration your specific circumstances.

  • At your first session, we will take time to go over information about the counselling process, including reviewing consent forms and confidentiality, and we will have a chance to address any questions or concerns you might have. The first session is also a chance to get to know each other a little better, share more about what brings you to therapy, and consider possible directions for our work to take.

    Building a positive working relationship can take some time - I typically recommend attending 2-3 sessions to determine whether we’re a good fit, if you’re able. If at any time you decide I’m not the right fit for your therapy journey, I can offer support in navigating other possible referrals.

  • I offer in-person sessions in Ottawa at 439 Churchill Ave N. I also provide video sessions online across Ontario.

  • My fee for a 50-60 minute psychotherapy session is $160. Psychotherapy is tax-exempt in Ontario, therefore there is no HST included in the fee. Fees are typically charged immediately following each session.

  • Many benefits plans offer some coverage for psychotherapy services. Please check your provider for details on your specific coverage for services provided by a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) to determine eligibility. I provide a receipt after each session which can be submitted to your provider for compensation.